Record changing device for phonographs



RECORD CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 10, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 WW BY b mi.

ATTORNEY July 1950 B. F. WISSNER 2, 8

RECORD CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 10, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 94a ATTORNEY B. F. WISSN ER RECORD CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS July 18, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 10, 1943 INVENTOR 'Bi/VJA'M/N F W/557Y5/P BY j ATTORNEY July 18, 1950 B. F, WISSNER 2,515,283

RECORD CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 10, 1943 t 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BENJAM/N F #1055445 July 18, 1950 B. F. WISSNER RECORD CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 10, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 wwmk - INVENTOR Emu/ 4w Fmx/vm ATTORN EY Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORD GHANGING DEVICE FOR PnoNoGnAPHS- Benjamin F. Wissner, New York, Y.

Application May 10, 1943, Serial No. 486,292

mechanism for playingfirst thetop of the topmost record of the stack, then lifting the topmost record off the staclnand playing the-underside of the lifted record, then playing the top of the thentopmost record of the stack. and then lifting it and playing its underside, and-soon A further object of this-invention is'to provide a record changer of the character described provide a record changer oi the character described having means to'engage-the outer-edge of the topmost-record. and liit it sufficiently so that a set'ofspring; pressed catches Withinthe central shaft onavhich' the records are mounted,

-maysnap outbeneath theliitedrecord'; means being further providedto raise said catches for raisingthe lifted record-past any othernsetcf spring pressed catches-permanently loca'tedat a predetermined. height above the turn table, whereby said. second .set:may engage beneath the raisedrrecord to retain the same at apredetermined level while the first mentioned spring pressed catches are lowered.

Yet a further object. of this invention is to provide in arecor-di changer of. the character described, a highly improved selector which will lift the topmost record or the stacleafte-r it' is played; said selector. being operative to e age and-lift said toprecord whether it is. aid or 12" record. 1

Still a further object of thie-invention-is to provide in a record-*changenot the: character described; a tone arm hay-ing;an upwar'dlyv pointed needle or stylus and-a-downwardl-y pointed needlev This application .is; a

' and of: which: the scope of application 'wil'l-=-be*inor stylus, means being" providedgto bringftiie tone arminto contact with the-topside of tl'letorn most record ofT-th'e staclijto play the top of said record, thereafter to move 'th'e'tone' arm upward- 1y ofi the record and outwardly, and" to raise the played record: and-retain it inl'ift'ed posir tion and thento move the tone arm inwardly and. in engagement with the underside, offthe raised record, to play the bottom of said. record. said meansbeing. operative to move the tonejarm i'nto'contact' with the'beginning of said recordwhether it is a .10 or 12" record.

In accordance with the present invention it is only necessary. to engage the needle" withv the top 'of' the first record ofthe stack,- andithe'tbne arm is thereafter automatically engaged with the starting points of the records.

Yet a further object ,of this inventibn is taprovide ina record changer of the character ""described highly improved ,and novel means for. lifting the records, one at a time by mechanisms which are housed in the interior'o'f the turn table shaft which passes through the central'openi'ngs in the records on .thevtur'n' table.

A still further objectofthis invention is toprovide in a record changer of the character "described)v a highly isfnnpli'fied. improved driving means for the turn table and the'raised' records, the constructioniincludin'g the" conventionaljtire'd friction wheel contacting the inside edge of'the periphery of the turn table to rotate it in one'direction, and another wheel mounted on the-same axis, which through the .transmissi'oniofian idler, rotates another" wheel which transmits power through gearing to a tired roller'wheel which rotates theupper stack of 'raisedrecords in an opposite direction simultaneously with the rotation of the lower turn table.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a highly improved and compact reco'r'd changer of the character described, which'shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture; smooth and positive in operation; and. which shalryet be practical and eflicient to highdegreein' use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafterpointedout;

The invention accordingly consists in the/featureslof construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described,

di-cated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing; in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments o'fthis invention,

Fig. l, is a, front elevational' view of a record changer embodying the invention with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 3; j f.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6ofFig. 1; i

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view taken in the plane of lines 88 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line view taken on line 10-10 0fFig.9;

Fig. 11 is an elevational, cross-sectional view through the axis of the turn table on line llll of Fig. 3;

Fig; 12 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view illustrating the feeler mechanism for automatically engaging the tone arm with either "10" or 12" records, according to what 'records' are to be p d; I

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |3l3 of Fig. 6; v

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l4l4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l5+l5 ofFig. 14; v

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional 16:; of Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on. line new taken on line Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l8l8 of Fig. 16; I

Fi 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l9-|9 of Fig. 16, before a record is lifted;

taken on line 1-4 Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 but showing the position where the topmost record has been .lifted by the selector, and the raising catches are engaged beneath the lifted record for subsequently raising the same;

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken on line Fig. 22 is a cross sectional view taken on line "22-42 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken on line '23-23 of Fig. 21;

Referring now in detail to the drawing, lll

designates a record changer embodying the inlvention. The same comprises a frame having a bottom wall I! and a top' wall l2 supported on a vertical wall 13.

On the bottom wall H is a thrust bearing l4.

,Rotatably mounted on the thrust bearing is a pinion 15. On the pinion 'arethree equiangularly spaced radial pins 16 (Fig. 18) for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Mounted on the pinion the upper ends of slots 13, with three short slots 26 equiangularly spaced from one another, but spaced from slots l9. Shaft I! may be open at its upper end, but is formed with an internal shoulder 2 i.

It will be noted that shaft l1 passes through a central opening i2a in wall l2. Wall l2 may be provided with a bearing [22) for said shaft. On said bearing is a turn table 22 fixed to the tubular shaft H. The turn table 22 has a downwardly extending rim 23 at its outer edge.

Means is provided to rotate the turn table 22.

To this end there is suspended from table 12 by means of brackets I20, an electric motor 24 having a vertical armature shaft 25. On the upper end of shaft 25 is a rubber tired wheel 26 engaging the inner surface of the rim 23. Thus when the motor is running, turn table 22 will be rotated.

A stack of records 21 may be mounted on the turn table 22 with the shaft l'i' passing upwardly through the central openings in the records.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided means for playing the upper surface of the topmost record on the stack supported by the turn table, and for thereafter raising the topmost record and supporting it in raised position, and for playing the underside of the raised record. The records may be stacked on the turn table with 10" or 12" records mixed in any order. As will be prises a collar 30 slidably mounted in tube :1, said collar having substantially semi-circular slots 3| through which portions of the tube on opposite sides of slots I8 pass. Said collar is also formed with an outwardly extending annular flange 32.

Fixed to the axis of the collar and extending upwardly in the tube is a vertical rod 33 enlarged at its upper end. The upper end of the rod is formed with a diametric slot 33a receiving the lower ends of a pair of fingers 35 pivoted to the rod as at 37.

The fingers are adapted to swing outwardly through the slots I8 to a limited extent. Be-

tween the fingers 36 is a spreading spring 38. As

the rod 33 moves down in the manner hereinafter appearing, the fingers 36 are pressed inwardly by the inner edges 21a of the record openings. When the rod 33 moves up, the fingers 36 will 'spread as soon as they move into the clear.

record upwardly to a degree sufficient to permit Means is provided to tilt or lift the topmost the fingers 36 to spread open as rod 33 moves up, and engage beneath the tilted or lifted record, as

illustrated in Fig. 20, so that thereafter the rod 33 may be raised for raising the record to a predetermined height. To this end there is journalled 'on wall I2 a vertical sleeve 39 (Fig. 13). Extending through the sleeve 39 is a vertical rotary shaft 40 to which the sleeve 39 is splined.

At theglower end of the shaft is a pinion la.

l5, and. fixed thereto, is a vertical; tubular shaftl1 formed below wall 12 with a pair of diametrically opposed vertical slots i8. Above wall l2, shaft I1 is formed'with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 19 located in a plane at right angles On the sleeve 39 is a selector or tilting plate 4|. The same comprises a segmental portion 42 inclined upwardly in a counterclockwise direction,

looking at Fig. 3 of the drawing. Extending from the lower end of the portion 42 is a flat segment 43. Beyond flat portion 43 is a flat segment at a level lower than level of segment 43. Extending upwardly in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) from the end of segment 44 is a segment 45; Thez'verticali height of segment 42 is such that theupper end thereof is slightly. above the top: surface of the topmost record on the. turn tab1e..when. a maximum number of records are on the turn table.

Means. is provided. to rotate the sleeve 39. in a counterclockwise direction, about 270, after each time the top of the uppermost record on the turn table is played, for tilting or lifting said topmost record to the position shown in Fig. 13. The rotating mechanism for the sleeve will be later described. Upon rotation of sleeve 39, se lector-member 4| will be rotated to first contact the'underside of inclined segment 42 with, the edge of. the topmost record on the turn table. As selector 4| is rotated it will ride up until the underside of segment 43 contacts the top of the upper record. The space between portions 43 and-4.4.issufiicient to admit the thickness of a record to pass therebetween. Thus as the selector rotates, the forward edge 44a of segment will engagebeneath the topmost record. The radius of segment 44 is sufiicient to engage a record if there be a 10" record at the top of the stack. Furthermore, segment 43 is of such angular extent that the heel of segment 42 will contact the edge of the 10" records before edge 4411; can engage the 12" record below the 10" record. If the topmost record is a 12" record it will. also be engaged by segment 44. As the selector'continues rotating the inclined segment 45'. will: engage the topmost record to lift or tilt itz to. the position shown in Fig. 13. The angle voftsegment 44 is such that segment 43 will move past the engaged record, either 10" or 12", before-therecord begins to be tilted by segment 4.5-, so as to prevent pinching of the record. As the topmost record is tilted it will permit spreadingof fingers 36 upon raising rod 33, in the manner" hereinafter appearing, to enable the fingers to-engagebeneath the tilted record, whereupon further upward movement of the rod 33, will raise the record to its upper position.

Meansis provided for raising the tiltedrecord after it is tilted. To this end there is mounted on andv between the walls II and I2, a vertical rotary. shaft 46. Fixed to the shaft 46 is a gear 4.1..and extending upwardly from the gear is a cylindrical cam 48. The upper edge 49 of cam 48 'has a rise and fall and its greatest height is equivalentto the vertical distance it is desired to raise the records.

The edge 49 of the cam engages beneath collar flange 32' so that as the gear 41 rotates, the collar .301'will. be raised for lifting the rod 33 together with the fingers 36 and the record 21 which has been engaged by said fingers. The gear 4! is formed with a notch 50, and the teeth of said gear are adapted to mesh with the teeth of pinion .15; When the notch 50 is in registry with the pinion l5, thepinion will not drive the gear 41. However, when the gear 47 is rotated sufficiently for its teeth to engage with the pinion, it will lie-rotated one revolution.

Means is provided to kick the gear 41 at prez determined times sufficiently to engage the pinion. To this end there is pivoted to the underside: of gear 41 a bell crank 5| having an arm .52:*a-dapted to engage one of the pins It on the pinion when said arm drops down by gravity. However,- when the bell crank is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 11, arm 52 will be raised above the pin l6.

Means is provided to hold the bell crank 5| inmon-engaging position relative to thepins- I6.

To this end. there is-pivoted to the underside. of gear 4.1.;.as.at.54,.a bell crank.54a. having anarm 54b..and. another arm. 54c. Aspring 54d urges the .arm 54biof the bell. crank. into engagement witharm 52a of bell. crank .51. to retain said bell crankinapositionshown inFig. 11.. However, Whenthe. bell crank.54a is kicked, in the manner hereinafter tobe. explained, bellcrankfil is re:- leasedand dropsto a positionfor. engaging pin I6, to kickgearAlsufiiciently for the teeth there,- of 'to. mesh. with. pinion [5,. whereby the. gear 47 i :given one revolution.

Meansis.providedtoretain the raised records in their upper positions. Tothis end there. is pivoted within the tube l1! three equiangularly spaced. radial, catches adapted to project throughtheslots 21]"; Within the upper end of tube. is a. verticahrod 6| having an annular grooved collar. 62. at itslower end engaging in wardly extending fingers B3 on the catches 60.

At the upper end of the rod 6| is a button 64. Fixed" within the upper. end of tube ll adjacent shoulder 2| is a sleeve 65. through which rod Bl passes. Interposedbetween sleeve and button 641s a compression spring 66. When the button 644s depressed the catches 60 will be swung inwardly about their pivot. points to draw said .catches into the tube H to permit records to be loaded on the turn table. When a record is moved upwardly. by rod 33the record will move past; the catches 6B, squeezing them together, andsaid catches will snap apart beneath the raised record.

Means is provided to support the raised records androtate the same in a direction opposite to the direction of rotationof the turn table. To this end there is .mountedon the wall l2, a pair of sleevesflliiandll. The sleeves It and H may be located substantially 120? apart, and 120 from sleeve=39.' Extending through sleeve it is an inner sleeve 73 formed at its lower end with a yoke 14. Extending. through the inner sleeve 73;.isra vertical shaft 75 carrying a rubber wheel 76 at its lower end.disposed in said yoke. On the motor shaft 25:. is a rubber wheel 25a at the level-:of wheel 76. Fixed to wall [2 is a vertical shaft: supporting an idler wheel TI. The idler wheel 11 has a downwardlyv and outwardly taperedtread surface engaging the wheels 25a and. 16'. Thus when the motor operates, shaft l5iwill'be rotated. I

Onthelower-end of the inner sleeve 13 is a pinion "8. The inner sleeve 13 extends above sleeve 18 and rotatably mounted on said upper end-is an annular housing 19 formed with a notch Sil -at itslower end. Fixed to sleeve 33 is apin 8-! received in the notch 89. Ihus when the housing 19 is down, and the pin 8! is engaged in the notch 8i rotation of the inner sleeve 33 in the manner hereinafter-appearing, will cause rotation of the housing :79; However, said housingxmaybe lifted and then rotated independently of theinner sleeve; On housing i9 is a screw 82 projecting into a groove 83 on the inner sleeve to limit lifting of the housing 19. At the upper end of the-shaft 'lfi is a bevel gear 85. Extending from housing-l9 is a horizontal sleeve lea. Within-sleeve-l9a-is a shaft Bl carrying a bevel gear 81b at'its inner end, meshing with pinion 86. At the opposite end of shaft-81 is awheel 87a adapted to engagebeneath the raised records.

It will'now -be understood that when the motor operates wheel 81a will be rotated to turn the raised records in a'direction opposite to the direction ofi' rotationofthe turntable. However,

7 the. housing I9 may be rotated manually to bring sleeve 19a to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 when loading records on the turn table.

The raised records are supported at three equally spaced apart points. The place of one support (the drive wheel) has been described. The records are alsosupported as shown in Fig. 13 by an arm 90 mounted at the upper end of shaft 40. The arm 90 has a sleeve 90a, rotatably receiving the upper end of the shaft. Said sleeve has a notch on its underside b engaging a pin 90c on shaft 40. When the arm israised to clear the pin said arm may be rotated outwardly,-..independently of shaft 40, .to permit loading of records on the turn table.

However, when the pin 900 is engaged in notch 90b, said arm 90 will be rotated Withshaft 40 in the manner hereinafter to be described. Arm 90 carries an idler wheel 90d likewise supporting the records.

The third point of support for the records is at sleeve 'II. Extending through said sleeve is a vertical shaft Ila carrying a pinion 'IIb at its lower end. On the upper endof shaft Ha. is an arm 'IIc having a sleeve lld rotatably engaging said shaft, and likewise provided with a notch to engage a pin on said shaft. At the inner end of arm He is a wheel lIe likewise engaging be-. neath the records. The raised records are thus engaged by the wheels 81a, 90d and He. The tone arm BI is provided with an upwardly pointing needle or stylus Sid and a downwardly pointing needle or stylus BID. The upper surface of the records are played by the needle BIb, whereas the undersides of said records are played by the needle 9 Ia. To support the tone arm there is fixed to wall I2 a vertical sleeve 92. Extending through sleeve 92 is an inner sleeve 92a formed with an upwardly inclined arm 93 at its upper end, to which the tone arm 9| is pivoted as at 95. At the lower end of sleeve 92a is an arm 92b formed with a downwardly extending finger 020. A pin 92d (Fig. 21) limits rotation of arm 92?) in one direction.

Means is provided to control the up and down movement as well as the swinging movement of tone arm 9|. To this end there is mounted on the wall II another vertical shaft 90. Pinned to shaft 96 is a gear 91 likewise adapted to mesh with pinion I 5. Gear 91 is formed with a peripheral notch 91a. When the notch 91a registers with pinion I5, said pinion can rotate without rotating the gear 01.

Means is provided to kick the gear 91 sufiiciently to engage the teeth thereof with pinion I5, so that as the motor operates, gear 91 will make one revolution and then stop. To this end there is pivoted to gear 91, as at 911), a bell crank 98 having an arm 98a adapted to be engaged by one of the pins I6 when said arm drops by gravity to the level of said pins.

Means is provided for retaining the bell crank 98 out of engagement with pins I6. To this end there is pivoted to gear 97, as at 98?), bell crank 99 having an arm 99a adapted to engage an upwardly extending arm 880 of bell crank 98 to retain said bell crank in the position shown in Fig. 11. Bell crank 99 is urged in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 2-1, by spring I00. Said bell crank has a second arm 9% extending at an angle to the arm 99a. On the gear 91 is a cam IN. The cam IOI has a circular dwell portion I0la having an angular extent of about 120. Said cam also has an inwardly curved portion IOIb adapted to engage the pin 920 on arm 92b for swinging the .tone' arm outwardh after a record is'played. As will appear herein+ after, the gear 91 is stationary while the record is being played. During this time the arm 921) will swing in a clockwise direction looking at Fig. 21 of the drawing, and the cam IOI has a portion IBIc to permit arm 92b to swing inwardly.

However, when the pin 920 contacts arm-99b at the end of a record play, bell crank 99 will. be

" kicked to release the bell crank 98 which drops into the path of pin It. This operation kicks gear 91 into engagement with pinion I5 for rotating the gear 91 one revolution. During such revolution arm 92b will be swung outwardly or in a counterclockwise direction due to engagement of pin 920 with cam portion I0Ib.'

As the gear 91 continues to rotate, the tone arm will remain in its outwardly swung positionzwhile the record is being lifted, if the top of a record had just previously been played.

However, if the bottom of a record has been played, the tone arm will swing out, stay outfor a while, and then will be reengaged with the next record.

Means is provided to raise the tone arm after the top of a lower record has been played to neutral position before it is swung out, and to reengage the tone arm with theunderside of a raised record. After the lower side of a raised record has been played, the tone arm will be lowered by said means to neutral position before it is swung out and then will be further lowered into engagement with the starting point of the top of a record on the turn table. To this end, gear 9? is provided with a fixed peripheral cam I03. Said peripheral cam has a low portion I03a. and arise I032), and a dwell I030 of constant height, and an incline drop Ii3d leading back to low portion I03a. Extending through the sleeve $2 is a vertical shaft I05 contacting the underside of tone arm 90. The lower end of rod I05 contacts the cam surface I03. After'alternate revolutions of gear 9'! rod I05 rests at portion 103a of cam I03. During this time the gear is stationary and the top of a record on the turn table is being played. When the play is completed arm 92b kicks'out bell crank 99 which in turn releases bell crank 98, and gear 07 is then rotated for one revolution. During this period rod I05 will ride up on cam H331) to lift the tone arm to neutral height, and the tone arm will remain at such neutral height while the rod engages said cam portion I030.

Slidably mounted on gear 91 is a segmental cam I06. Segmental cam I00 slides radially into the circle of cam I03, but may be moved outwardly out of the circle of cam I 03' so as to be in inoperative position. The cam I06 has a high dwellportion IBGa at a greater level than cam portion I030. It also has an incline portion I06b leading down to dwell portion I030, and an'incline portion I060 which leads up from dwell I030 to the high part When a lower record is being played cam I0 is in inoperative position. However, after the lower record is played, and the gear 91 is rotated, rod I05 rides up incline I031) on to dwell I030, and while it is on the dwell cam I06 is moved inwardly, in the manner hereinafter explained, to operative position, so that rod I05 instead of riding down incline I'03d will ride up incline I060 on to the high dwell Illfia, thus raising thetone arm from neutral position to engage the underside'of a raised record. Thus while the raised record is played, rod I05 is on the dwell .I06a;

after the raised record is .played and gear 91 is again rotated, rod I 05 will ride down incline H161) to lower the tone arm :to neutral position, and then while the rod Ill-5 is in contact with dwell I'II3'c, cam I iiE will again be moved outwardly to its inoperative position 'so that as the gear comes around,rod IE5 will againride down incline l-03d to lower the tone arm into engagement with the record on the turn table. The operative position of cam M56 is illustrated in Fig. 25, and the inoperative position of said cam is illustrated in Fig. .23.

Means is provided to swing the arms 19a, Ho, and 9D outwardly beyond the records, automatically, after each time 'a lower record is played-so as to permit the played record to be raised and to return said arms to their original positions. Thus the arms are swung outwardly after :alter-' nate 'playings. To this end there is mounted on shaft-9G a gear I'Ifi. Rotatably mounted on bearing II! b fixed to wall I2, is .a gear III :meshing with gear Ho. The ratio of the gears is such that two revolutions of gear I'Il) will make one revolution of gear 5 II. On the underside of gear III is a cam IIIa extending through an angle of 180. slidably 'mounted on the frame'in any suitable manner is an elongated'rod I I2 having a rack portion I I20. at one end and arack portion I-I'2b at its other end. Rack portion l IZa meshes with pinion "I II). Rack portion 'I'IZb meshes with pinion 41a on shaft 40.

slidably mounted on the frame in any suitable manner is a second rod I I3'having a'rac'k portion Him at one end and a rack portion '8 ill!) at its other end. Rack portion 1 I311 meshes with'pini'on I8, whereas rack portion II3b meshes likewise with pinion lia. It will be understood that'as rod H2 moves in one direction, pinions I'Ib, Ala and I8 will be rotated in counterclockwise direc-' tions, thus causing arms Ho, 9Ilrand 18a to swing outwardly to permit a record to beraised. When said arms swing outwardly, the support of the records is transferred'from the wheels "Ii'Ic, "96d and 81a to the catches '69. As rods "I I2, I53 move back the supporting wheels are'returned.

Means is provided to shift the rod H2 back and forth on alternate revolutions of thegear 91. To this end there is journalled in the bearing 210 on the frame, a gear ZIlia meshing with gear I'I'U. Gears Ill} and Zliia are of the same diameter andhave the same number of teeth, so'that one revolution of gear IIii will cause one revolution of gear 'ZI'iia. On gear 2111a is a pin IIIia.

Pivoted to rod H2 about 'a "horizontal pivot I IQ- is a bell crank H5 having one arm I'It engageable by the cam II Ia, and a second forked 'arm II! formed with a slot '8. As gear 'I It rotates during one revolution, while arm H6 is engaged with the cam IIIa, arm I I! will move to a posi-v pin I Ida and rod 2 I2 will therefore not be shifted. Thus the arms which carry the rollers or wheels that support the records, are swung outwardly on alternate playi-ngs of the records, that is only after the lower records are played, but not after the upper records are played.

.On rod 2 is an outwardly extending arm I22 adapted to kick the bell crank 54a to release the bell crank 5I' after alternate playings of the records, that is aftereach lower record is played.

The means for shifting the cam I 06 in and out of operative positions will now be described. On the central part of cam M8 is a downwardly extending finger I 36. Attached to rod II2 on arm [22a is a wedge shaped shoe I3I. When .rod I22 is shifted while gear 9'! is rotating, shoe I3I will be moved to a position where it will engage the cam I06 and move it inwardly to operative position. Thus after a lower record has been played, cam I06 will be moved to operative position to raise the tone arm, and that occurs only after the lower records have been played.

The means for moving the'cam I05 to inopera tive position comprises a wedge shaped fixed cam I36 in a position to'engage the finger I30 and move the cam radially-outwardly. The cam I34 may be fixed to the frame inany suitable manner.

It will be noted that the shaft 46 is rotatedon alternate playings, that isv only each time after a lower record has been played. t

Means is'provided to automatically swing the tone arm inwardly into engagement with either 10" or '12" records, whichever is to be played next, so that it will be necessary only to start the tone arm with the first record. To this end there is mounted on the frame a vertical shaft I39. Rotatablymounted on'said shaft is a sleeve I 39a.- On sleeve I39a is a radial arm I39d connected by spring I 390 to a fixed portion of the frame. There is also fixed on said sleeve 139a an arm I39d carrying an ofiset portion or arm 1'39 There is further fixed'tosaidsleeve an arm I399 carrying a pin I3-9e adapted to contact the arm 9% to retain pin'92c inengagement'with the cam IIlI.

If 10" records are being played arm 9212 can move to a position where the pin 92'ocontacts cam portion Ill'Ic. However, as the selector II is rotated, after the lower record has been played, itwill preset the machine so that during the next two playings of the underside of a raised record and theupperside of-the'next record on the turn table, the tone arm will automatically move in to proper position to start playing the record, dcpending upon whether the record to be raised and the next record are'lO" or 12" records.

The feeler mechanism comprises aslider 1'40 slidably mounted on segment 43 and havingra projection I l'l passing through 'slot Mla in said segment. Said member I40 has an offset arm i-Mia' provided with-a 'pin'lflllb. Said member Mil also'has a slotted arm I iilc. If a 10" record is being raised by the selector, member I40 does not contact the record; However, if a 12" record is being raised by the selector, the projection MI of slider Hill willengage the edge of the record;

and said slider will be moved inwardly.

Pivoted on segment 43 is a bell crank M4. The bell crank I44 is formed with a tooth I45. Said bell crank also has an offset arm IMa contactedby'pin I' l-lib. Movement of slider Mt will swing bell crank I44.

Fixed to upper, and lower ends of shaft 40 ar collars 48a. Rotatably mounted on said collars,

Swiveled on the lower collar Mia, as at 5th, is;

Said arm I48 11 'Pivoted to the frame as at I50 is a lever I51. Said lever has a curved arm I52 at one end adapted to be engaged by the offset arm I48, if the shaft I46 has been rotated by the bell crank I44. Thus if the top most record is a 12" record, lever I5I is swung in a counterclockwise direc tion, looking at Fig. 12. I

' Onlever I5I is a cam I52a. Pivoted to gear III as at I54, is a finger I55. Rotation of lever I5I causes the cam portion I52a thereof to lift the finger I55 from the full to the dotted line position of Fig. 10. In such position finger I55 serves as a stop and is adapted to engage an offset arm I391 on arm I39d limiting movement of the arm I39g, and hence limiting movement of arm 92b.

The parts are so proportioned that when the stop finger I55 is up it will limit inward movement of the tone arm to start playing a 12" record. If the topmost record lifted by the feeler was a 10" record, lever I5I would not engage the finger I55, and the tone arm could come all the way in to engage the 10" record. On the bearing IIIb for gear III is a finger IIIc to kick out stop member I55 after the underside of the upper record has been played.

It will be noted that gear III makes a half revolution each time a record is played. For this reason means is provided for the selector to also feel the record beneaththe topmost record on the turn table to preset the machine so that the tone arm will engage either a 10" or 12" record on-the turn table after it has finished playing the underside of the raised record. To this end there is slidably mounted on segment 44 of the selector 4| adjacent the segment 45, a slider I60 having a projection IGI passing down through a slot I8Ia in the segment. Said projection IBI is adapted to contact a record below the topmost record, if it happens to be a 12" record.

3 However, if the record below the top record'on the turn table is a 10" record projection IBI will not engage it. Engagement of the projection I 6| with a 12" record will cause the bell crank I68 to slide in and such action causes rotation of a second bell crank I82 similar to I44, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted for rotation on the collars 40a is a second vertical shaft I65 similar to shaft I46 and located in diametrically opposed relation therewith. Swiveled tothe lower collar 4011., as at 400, is an arm I61 similar to arm I48 and having a downwardly extending finger I81a adapted to engage a lever I10 similar to lever I5I. Lever I10 will only be swung if shaft I65 is rotated due to the presence of a 12" record beneath the topmost record. Lever I18 has a cam I1I adapted to lift a pivot finger I12 from full to dotted line positions shown in Fig. 10. Finger I12 is located opposite to finger I55. Thus after the underside of the raised record is played fin ger I12 will be in position to serve as a stop for arm I39 as gear III will have been rotated 180 from the position shown in Fig. 12. Projection II I is adapted to kick out stop I12 after the top of the record on the turn table has been played. As shown in Fig. 21, spring pressed bell cranks I80, I8I engage notches IBM and I8Ia. in gears 41' and 91 to retain said gears against accidental movement.

Means is provided to reject or omit the play of the topside of the top record on the turn table orthe underside of a raised record. To this end there is rotatably mounted on the frame wall I2 an on and off motor switch I83 connected in. any

suitable manner to the terminals of the motor. Fixed to the switch I83 is an arm I84 (Fig. 3). Slidably mounted on the frame in any'suitable manner is an elongated rod I85, urged in one direction by spring I85a. At one end of the rod I85 is a projection I86 adapted to be engaged by arm I84 as the switch is turned to rejected position, against the tension of said spring I85a.

Journalled in the frame is a shaft I81 from one end of which there extends an arm [88a pivotally connected to the opposite end of rod I85. Extending from the other end of shaft I81 is an arm I88 carrying a pin I89 at its outer end. The pin I89 is so located as to engage a lug I90 on arm 99a. of bell crank 99 when rod I85 is shifted by means of the switch arm I84. Engagement of the pin I89 with lug I will cause rotation of the bell crank 99 (Fig. 21) in a direction to disengage arm 00c of bell crank 98 to permit arm 98a to drop into the path of the pins I8 causing the gear 91 to rotate. The cycle is thus started for the tone arm to move away from the record to continue its movement for the next play.

Means is provided to return bell crank 98 to the position shown in Fig. 11 (out of contact with pins I8) during each revolution of gear 91. To this end there is mounted on the base or bottom wall II a cammed projection 91a adapted to be contacted by arm 98a of bell crank 98, thereby enabling the trigger or hell crank 99 to engage the upwardly extending arm 980 of hell crank 98 and retain said bell crank in inoperative position. Means is also provided to retain the bell crank 5I in inoperative position (out of contact with respect to the pins I6). To this end there is mounted on the base or bottom wall I I, a cammed lug or projection 41a adapted to engage arm 52 of the bell crank 5I to raise it as the gear 41 rotates to enable arm 54b of bell crank or trigger 54a to engage arm 52a of bell crank 5! and retain the latter in inoperative position.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A phonograph and record changer comprising rotary means to support a stack of records, means to play the upper side of the topmost record of said stack while the stack is on said supporting means, means to raise said topmost record to a position above said stack andmeans to play the underside of the raised record in raised position.

2. A phonograph and record changer comprising rotary means to support a stack of records, means to play the upper side of the topmost record of said stack while the stack is on said supporting means, means to raise said topmost record to a position above said stack and means to play the underside of the raised record in raised position, and again play the top of the next record on the supporting means.

3. A phonograph and record changer comprising rotary means to support a stack of records, means to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack while said stack is on said supporting. means; means; to raise 'said topmost record to a position above said stack and. means to play the underside of the raised record. in raised position, said record changer including a tone; arm: carrying-a needle: and means-to automatically engage the needle" on. the tone arm with the records 'tobe 'played irrespective of whether the records'are or 12 records.

4. AJ-phonograph andc'record changer'compris" ing a. turn table adapted to support a stack of records, means; to rotate the turntable in one direction, a tone arm having-a downwardly extending needle. and an upwardly extendingneedle, meansto move the downwardly extendingzneedle of the tonearm into engagement with. the'.'topside*of a top record. onrthe stack. to play said-topside, means to movethetone arrn beyond the'staok'of records after-playing the upper surface of the topmost record, means: to lift the topmost record after it is played, toa predetermined: height, means to rotate-the raised record in an opposite'dire'ction, and imeans tov engagethe upwardly extending needle of the tone arm with the underside of the raised record to play said underside r of said. "record.

"5, Agphonograph and record changer-comprising'z'a turn tablev adapted tosupport a stack-of records; means for rotating the turn table in one direction, means: for playing the-upper surfacev of the topmostwrecord-"on the stack, means for raising thesplayed record: after it'has been played to a position above said stack, *means to support the raised record. in raised. position, means for playing the underside of the raised record: int'its :raised position, and'including meansto rotate the raised record in an opposite direction.

6; A phonograph. and record changer comprising a turn table adapted to support a stack of records, means for rotating the turn table in one direction, means'for playing: the upper surface of the topmostrecordon the stack, means for. thereafter automatically" raising the' played record after it'hasabeen' played, means to support the raised record in raised position, means for thereafter automatically playingzthe underside of the raised record; including means to rotate theraised-"record ini an opposite direction, the means for supporting: theraised record" including. a plurality of spaced wheels contacting the underside of the: raised record, and the driving means for the. raised record including means to rotate: oneof said contacting1= wheels.

7. A phonograph and record changer comprising-'aoturn'table adapted to support a stack of records, means torotate said turn table, means tea-play the upper surface of the topmost record, andemeans to thereafter automatically raise the topmost. record off said stack' after it is played whetherit be a 1'0" record or a 12" record, and meansfito thereafter automaticallyplay "the; underside oftheraise'dzrecordiin raised position.

A phonograph and record changer comprise ingrartur'ni table'adapted tdsupporta stack of records,v means to rotate said turntable, means to playth'e upper surfaces of the topmost'r-ec- 0rd, means' to automatically-raise the: topmost record off-said stack'af-ter 'itis played'whether it be a 10 record'ora 1-2 record, said means comprising an axial: tubular' shaft passing through the central openings in the records, meanswengaging an'edge: of the topmost record to lift said topmost'recordto adimited degree'off: thess'stack, -means withinthe. shaft adapted. to

14; raise the last means; for: raising the lifted. rec- 0rd;

9. A phonograph and record changer comprising a turntable adapted to support a stack of records, means to rotate said turn table, means to play the upper surface of the topmost record, meansto thereafter automatically raise the topmost record. offsaid stack after it isplayed whether it be a 10" record or a 12 record, said" .means comprising:an axial tubular shaft passing through the central openings in the records, means engaging an. edge of the top record to lift said: top record'to. a limited degree off the stack, means within the shaft adapted to engage beneath the lifted: record, means to raise the last means for raising" the lifted record, and

spring pressedcatches at the upper end of said tubular shaft adaptedto permit the raised record. to pass'said spring catches, normally extending beyond the opening in said records and said spring catches being adapted to be squeezed to.- gether by a record passing the springs, and'to spring out after the raised record. has passed the same and having'means to engage beneath the raised record,wherebyto serve as asupport'i'for the :raised. record.

10. In a. phonograph and record changer, a selector to lift the topmost record off a stack of 10" and 12'' records stacked on a turn table :and mixed inany order, and operative to lift either-10" or 12" records, said selector-comprising a member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis,.;and :having an upwardly inclined segment, and a flat segment extending therefrom, andaisecond flat segment at a level lower than: the level of the first flat segment, and an; inclined segment extending from the second-fiat segment.

11'. in. a phonograph and record changer, means to support a stack of 10" or' 12 records, a tone arm havingan upwardly extending'needle and a downwardly extending. needle, means to engage thesdownwardly extending needle of the tonearm w'ithithe upper side of the topmost rec- 0rd of the stack, means to rotate the stack in one directionv to play said upper side of the topmost record; means to thereafter automatically move the tone. arm upwardly from the record being played. to neutral position, and. then outwardly beyond: the records, means to thereafter lift the topmost record to a'predetermined height, means to then swing the tone arm inwardly, and then upwardly into engagement with the beginning' of the raised record, means to thereafter automatically rotatethe raised record inv an oppositedirection to play the samemeans to thereafter-lower the tone outof engagement with the. raised record; and to. then swing the-tone arm outwardly; and: then downwardly automatically into engagement'with the beginning point of: the next record on the; stack.

121.111 a. phonograph and record changer, means tosupp'ort 'a stack of '10 or 12" records, a tone arm having an upwardly extending needle and a downwardly extending needle, means to engage the downwardly extending needle of the tone arm with the upperside of the topmost record of the stack, means to rotate the stack in one direction to play said upper side of the topmost record, meansto thereafter move the tone arm upwardly from the record being played to neutral position, and then outwardly beyond the records,.,means-to thereafter lift the topmost record to: a predetermined height: means: to then. swing the tone arm inwardly, and then upwardly tone arm outwardly, and then downwardly auto- I matically into engagement with the beginning point of the next record on the stack, and means to preset the control for the in and out movement of thetone arm during the lifting operation of each record to engage the tone arm with the starting, point of the underside of the lifted record and the top of the next record on the turntable.

13. A phonograph and record changer, comprising means to support a stack of records, means to rotate said stack, a tone arm, means to engage the tone arm with the start of the topmost record to play the same, and means operative to engage and lift the topmost record of the stack, whether it be a or 12 record, and means to play the underside of the lifted record in lifted position.

14. A phonograph and record changer, comprising means to support a stack of records, means to rotate said stack, a tone arm, means to engage the tone arm with the starting point of the topmost record to play the same, means operative to engage and lift the topmost record of the stack, whether it be a 10" or 12" record, and means to engage the tone arm with the underside of the raised record, means to rotate the raised record in an opposite direction to play the same, and means to thereafter engage the tone arm with the upper side of the next record on the stack, and means engageable with and controlled by the records in the stack to preset the means for engaging the tone arm with the records so that the tone arm will automatically engage the records at their starting points, whether they be 10 or 12 records.

15. A phonograph and record changer, comprising a turn table adapted to support a stack of records, means to rotate the turn table in one direction, tone arm means, means to move the tone arm means into engagement with the top side of a top record on the stack to play said top side, means to move the tone arm means beyond the stack of records after playing the upper surface of the topmost record, means to lift the topmost record after it is played, means to rotate the raised record in an opposite direction, and means to engage the tone arm means with the underside of the raised record to play said underside of said raised record.

16. A phonograph and record changer comprising a turn table adapted to support a stack of records, means to raise the topmost record off the stack to a raised position above said stack, and means to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack while it is supported on the turn table, and thereafter play the underside of the raised'record while the record is in raised.

position above the stack.

17. A phonograph and record changer comprising a turn table adapted to support a stack of records, means to raise the topmost record of the stack ofi the stack to a raised position above the stack, means to support the raised record in raised position above the stack, and means to play the upper side of the topmost record on the stack while said record is supported on the i turn table, and thereafter play the underside of the raised record while it is supported in raised position.

18. A phonograph and record changer com-= prising a turn table adapted to support a stack of records, means to raise the topmost record of the stack off the-stack to a raised position above the stack, 'means to support the raised record in raised position above the stack, and means to play the upper side of the topmost record on the stack while said record is supported on the turn table, and thereafter play the underside of the raised record while it is supported in raised position, said last means including means to rotate the turn table in one direction, means to rotate the means which supports the raised record in raised position in an opposite direction, a tone arm, and means to move the tone arm beyond the outer rim of the record after the top side of the record is played to permit the top record to be'raised, and to thereafter move the tone arm into position for playing the undersideof the raised record.

19. A phonograph and record changer comprising rotary means to support a stack of records, means to play the upper side of the topmost record of said stack while the stack is onsaid supporting means, means controlled by the playing means to raise said topmost record to a position above said stack, and means controlled by the raising means, to play the underside of the raised record in raised position.

20. A phonograph and record changer comprising rotary means to support a stack of records, means to play the upper side of the topmost record of said stack while the stack is on said supporting means, means to raise said topmost record to a position above said stack automatically upon completion of playing of said upper side of said record, and means to play the underside of the raised record in raised position automatically after raising the record, and means to thereafter automatically play the top of the next record on the supporting means.

21. A phonograph and record changer comprising rotary means to support a stack of records, means to play the upper side of the topmost record of the stack while said stack is on said supporting means. means to thereafter automatically raise said topmost record to a position above of records, means to rotate the turn table in one direction, a tone arm having a downwardly extending needle and an upwardly extending needle, means to move the downwardly extending needle of the tone arm into engagement with the topside of a top record on the stack to play said topside, means to thereafter automatically move the tone arm beyond the stack of records 1 after playing the upper surface of the topmost record, means to thereafter automatically lift the topmost record after it is played, to a predetermined height, means to thereafter automatically rotate the raised record in an opposite direction, and means to thereafter automatically engage the upwardly extending needle of the tone arm with the underside of the raised record to play said underside of said record.

23. A phonograph and record changer comprising a turn table adapted to support a stack REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Kincannon Nov. 8, 1932 Bryant July 18, 1933 Ansley June 9, 1936 Downs Jan. '19, 1937 Alm May 23, 1939 Wright July 21, 1942 Wissner May 11, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 13, 1933 Great Britain Feb. 22, 1939 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1941 France June 23, 1931 France Dec. 18, 1937 

